MET NOTES Reliever Armando Benitez was taking in a winter league game this past year near his home in the Dominican Republic and was extremely impressed with a young right-hander, a guy named Ocatvio Dotel.

The setup man who has become the Mets’ closer wasn’t happy just because he had a fellow countryman on his new team. He was happy because he saw a major league star in Dotel, who upped his record to 7-1 with the 7-5 victory over the Giants yesterday at Shea Stadium.

“I feel happy he was with the Mets,” Benitez said. “In Baltimore, I didn’t have any other Dominicans. There was only me.”

And get this, Benitez said the Mets have only seen the tip of the pitching iceberg with Dotel.

“I think he pitched in the Dominican more relaxed than he has here,” Benitez said. “He can pitch even better. I’ve told him to pitch like he does in the Dominican because he is so confident there.”

Benitez told Dotel, “The hitters you see in the Dominican are the same hitters you see here. They are all big league hitters. It’s not like you’re pitching to Rookie League guys or minor leagues, everybody is a big-leaguer there.”

Dotel was 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA for Escoguto. In 42 innings, he struck out 42 batters. Benitez also made it clear that if he has to go back to setup man with the return of John Franco he will do that for the good of the team.

However, it appears certain that Bobby Valentine will keep Benitez in the role of closer as Franco rebuilds his arm strength. *Franco and Rick Reed said their fingers felt fine the day after their Tuesday outings. “I’m another two or three outings away from feeling comfortable,” Franco said. “I’m not comfortable yet, but I’m getting there. No pain at all. Nothing wrong with my finger at all.

“It’s just a matter of being out there and pitching in game situations again after being out for two months and not facing hitters.” *Orel Hershiser goes against Kevin Brown tonight in Los Angeles, the first of four games with the Dodgers. The Mets then play three in Colorado before coming home to face the Phillies … Bobby Jones, out since May 23 with a strained rotator cuff, is expected to be activated from the disabled list today. He made his fifth rehab start Monday and hasn’t thrown since in hopes of being rested and ready to go if needed.

Jones, 3-3 with a 5.81 ERA in nine games – all starts – is expected to be used in long relief when he returns, hopefully bolstering the Mets beleaguered bullpen.

“They said I’ll be down in long relief, and if I get into the game, it’ll be with plenty of planning and notice,” Jones said. “After that, we don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Probably [today]; that’ll be the first day he’s available. I asked Dave [Wallace, pitching coach] not to throw him on the side so he’ll be available,” Valentine said. “We’ll use him only a long well-prepared stint.”